GMR Hosts Opening Ceremony for Moving Honors Procession

LEWISVILLE, TX—Global Medical Response (GMR) hosted the opening ceremony for the National EMS Memorial Service (NEMSMS) and Weekend of Honor Moving Honors procession launch at its offices in Lewisville, Texas, on July 16, 2021.

“It is an honor to sponsor and host the commencement of such a deeply important event for the EMS industry,” said Ted Van Horne, chief operating officer for Global Medical Response. “We mourn the loss of these 144 brave souls and remember their service. This has been a challenging and unprecedented year with an unwavering, valiant response by thousands of EMS professionals. As a country, as EMS professionals and as brothers and sisters, we want to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

The multistate dedicated ambulance procession carries a custom-built Tree of Life with the names of the 144 fallen EMS ground and air medical personnel who have died in the line of duty. This procession launch begins the countdown to the NEMSMS and Weekend of Honor. The Tree of Life is a representation of an oak tree, symbolizing strength. The name, agency and date of loss of each National EMS Memorial Service honoree is engraved on a bronze oak leaf.

From Dallas, the ambulance carrying the Tree of Life will make multiple stops at various locations across the country such as Chattanooga, Nashville, Roanoke (Virginia) and New York so that EMS personnel and residents can view a replica of the tree and pay their respects to the fallen. The Moving Honors procession will be met in Arlington, Virginia, on July 23 by the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride’s Ride of Honor. There, families of the honorees and EMS personnel from around the country will gather for a weekend of events to honor air and ground EMS providers.

“All 144 honorees dedicated their lives to caring for patients throughout their careers and we are focused on supporting their families, loved ones and colleagues who are grieving their loss,” said Randy Owen, CEO of Global Medical Response. “It is our privilege to lend support to fellow members of the EMS community as we remember our fallen colleagues and celebrate their lives.” GMR is the legacy sponsor of the NEMSMS.

The National EMS Memorial Foundation is leading the effort to establish a permanent memorial in Washington, D.C. The Tree of Life was designed and built as a temporary National EMS Memorial by Jennifer and Tom Liebman, both Texas-based employees of Global Medical Response.

“I was happy to have the opportunity to give back to my profession by taking an active role in creating the memorial that would honor those who died in the line of duty,” said Jennifer Liebman, artist and clinical manager for Global Medical Response. “The most rewarding part of my involvement in creating the memorial has been witnessing the part that it plays to help loved ones heal and connect them with others that have experienced similar loss.”